Dogs

singing to dogs

[wyweb]

I sing to my dogs sometimes.

I was born and raised on a farm in southeast Kansas and dogs were always part of our picture. They ran loose and they watched everything. Dogs don't miss much either. They're on top of it considerably faster than we are, even when we're standing right there.

I sing to them at times, especially the pups. I sing to all of them but the pups seem to like it better. I can put Sadie to sleep singing to her. She's 80 pounds now but when I brought her home she could dang near fit in my hand. She slept on my chest at night. She still likes to climb all over me but she's too big now....

I can't sing well but if it's soft and it's quiet even Roscoe tunes in. Roscoe is a Rott and he has attitude issues. Sadiegirl is a Black Lab pup. One year old in January and still pretty goofy. She took her cues from Roscoe for the first year but is now starting to show some independence, coming into her own, barking at noises in the night, stuff like that.

I love dog stories. I'd love to hear yours too.

[incrediBILL]

Did you name one Simon Cowell?

Did you get into the final 12 howl?

Sorry, had lots of dogs but I only sang to the 2-legged 1-bag variety.

[wyweb]

Did you name one Simon Cowell?

Um... no.. was I supposed to? I have Sadie and I have Roscoe and today I'm probably getting Zena because my ex doesn't want her anymore. I can not stand people who get animals and then one day decide they don't want them anymore. Another reason we're separated.

Did you get into the final 12 howl?

Our college basketball teams get in the final 4 on a regular basis. We're good at what we do out here, regardless of what it is.

Bear would howl at times. He'd hear the coyotes yipping in the back and he'd let them know he was there too. Just so they'd know. It was beautiful to hear. Lyrical. Mournful. "This is my territory" was what he was saying. Stay the hell away. Bear died two years ago but he was the smartest dog I'd ever met, bar none.

Sorry, had lots of dogs but I only sang to the 2-legged 1-bag variety.

I'd imagine that's true.

Do you have a dog now Bill?

Not trying to pry. Just being curious.

[jecasc]

Holly cow. I don't know what you are smoking but I sure want some of it. ;)

[wyweb]

I don't know what you are smoking but I sure want some of it

Actually nothing these days except these nasty cigarettes. 15 years ago I had fields of Afghani pot growing within miles of my house. The area was only accessible by boat, which was how I liked it.

I take it you're not a dog lover jecasc? This thread is about dogs. The statute of limitations has long expired on any weed business I did back then anyway.

Holly?

[Samizdata]

I sing to my dogs sometimes

Don't they ever sing back?

[youtube.com...]

...

[wyweb]

Don't they ever sing back?

Oh, absolutely. Some are more vocal than others. The Shepherds I've had will sing sometimes just for the pure joy of it. They like to talk too.

If you've never actually heard a dog or a wolf howl, you're missing out on something. It's absolutely beautiful. Bear would howl in his sleep sometimes. He'd howl when he was awake too but it was a different sound. He wasn't calling the pack when he was awake. He was responding to something he'd heard. Warning a perceived threat away. Letting enemies, imaginary or otherwise, know it was his turf and to back off. Dogs defend their own ground with quite a bit of passion.

His sleeping howls were lonely and mournful. He was calling out to assemble the group. To locate them. To let them know where he was. He wanted to be with them but there was no pack to be with. He was dreaming and I do that often myself.

You can't just get a dog and throw him out in the back yard. Lots of people do though. You have to get down on the ground and roll around with him. You've just got a friend for life and he/she will never let you down.

I can't say that about my human friends.

[topr8]

if you sang to my bullmastiff she would sing back - more of a howl actually but she'd really get into it

[lawman]

When I was much younger the city where I lived tested the warning sirens every Friday. Our dog, along with every dog in neighborhoods within earshot, began howling like pack wolves until the siren shut off. Quite a chorus.

[tbear]

Sadly, my last dog passed on, to the kennels in the sky, a few years ago (still miss her) but I never made her put up with my singing, LOL.

I did play the guitar to her though, every time I picked up the acoustic guitar she would want to come in and sit at my feet.

At least I knew my guitar playing was good enough for my Chiquita (a gorgeous, friendly Doberman).

[brotherhood of LAN]

I can't sing well

Dogs love attention so I wouldn't be surprised if they enjoyed t it anyway...

[wyweb]

Lawman we do that in Topeka, Kansas.

Every Monday at noon the tornado sirens go off. It's a way of testing them to make sure they're all online but it also lets City workers know when it's lunchtime, as if they didn't already know.

Those sirens wire up every dog in the neighborhood. Train whistles have a similar effect but not like this. That tornado siren gets them all going. Dogs you hear nothing of during the week are suddenly crashing the fence and having somthing to say.

[wyweb]

Dogs actually have a symmetry in their interactions with each other. Everything's understood. I know where you're at and you know where I'm at. I would actually prefer to see a more democratic society but it's that way for a reason. It maintains the integrity of the pack and the pack is all important. The pack emphasizes strength in numbers.

They're gang bangers when you get right down to it. Much of their method and philosophy is the same. They size you up, make a really quick decision as to whether they can take you out or not, and then move with it. I have no problem with that. None.

I have no problem with aggressive dogs either. I run things in my own house though. I've taken in what people considered to be "bad" dogs and they've fallen in line within weeks. I've been bitten before too. It happens. Roscoe tore off a small chunk of my right hand one day because I tried to pet him while he was sleeping. I shouldn't have. He was sleeping and I scared him. I rang his bell anyway. You don't bite me in my own house. We've reached an understanding now. Roscoe goes everywhere with me if I'm just making short hops.

I'm not a dog trainer either. Dogs will fall in line. All they need is an example to get behind.

[wyweb]

Chiquita (a gorgeous, friendly Doberman).

Doberman's are elegant. They're beautiful. They're fast and they can be silent as well.

I'd have one in a minute but I like a dog that barks. It alerts me to something I might need to be paying attention to.

Dobies can be on someones ass in a minute. They don't always let you know what they're doing though. They just get it done and you're left to pick up the pieces, if there's any left.

[SevenCubed]

They just get it done and you're left to pick up the pieces, if there's any left.

Speaking of which, do you have any idea why they hate mailmen and newspaper delivery boys?

[incrediBILL]

Do you have a dog now Bill?

Not in years.

I've had a lot of dogs, big ones, small ones, dalmatian, black lab, fox terrier, chihuahua even, and a few pure mutts, but only when I have a yard for them to run in.

When I don't have a yard I keep cats, a nice condo creature that you don't have to walk in the rain. My last cat had to be put down last October at 17 due to kidney failure.

Also had hamsters, rabbits and even a ferret briefly.

Taking a break from pets for a while as it's nice to travel and not have to worry about what to do with a four-legged friend while you're away.

Although there was nothing like picking up the cat at the kennel, he always threw his front legs around my neck like a little kid and hugged me hard when I can to get him. :(

do you have any idea why they hate mailmen and newspaper delivery boys?

I'm guessing because the mailmen come in uninvited, once you go out and make friends with your mailman and the dog together it usually changes.

The newsboy throws things at the dog, newspapers! Who likes people that throw things at you!

[wyweb]

Sadie loves the mailman. She wishes he'd come in and stay.

Roscoe, my Rott, doesn't like anybody. He had a bad childhood. Abandoned at 6 weeks. My ex girlfriends nephews found him on a creek bank, crying, wanting his mama. He was half starved and scared and it's scarred him for life. They brought him home.

My girlfriend couldn't handle him. She has a couple of shih tzu's, a puggle and a bunch of cats and Roscoe was running all over them. He wouldn't even let them eat at times, not until he was full anyway.

Women don't get the picture with big, aggressive dogs sometimes. It's okay and if I get argument here I'll bow out quick and in a hurry. A big dog needs a leader in his life though. He's geared up for it already. He wants it. If there isn't one, yeah, he'll try to run things on his own. And it may or may not work.

It's easy to become a dog's leader though. Assert authority. Let them know you're boss. Contrary to popular opinion, dogs like bosses.

[wyweb]

he always threw his front legs around my neck like a little kid and hugged me hard

And that's what it's about. That's exactly what it's about.

[creative craig]

I dont sing to our two, but our 15 month old Rottweiler Shakira sings to us :) When ever a police car/ambulance goes by she sings her heart out... Neo, our miniature daschund is the eyes and ears of the operation :)

[wyweb]

I'd never had a Rott before Craig. I'm a Rott believer now though. Fiercely loyal once they've gained your trust. They can be aloof though. Roscoe's by my side constantly, but half the time he ignores me. It's a good system because half the time I ignore him too. He has a soft bed under my desk.. some old camping pillows wrapped in a blanket.

Sadie's a Black Lab. She's got some Aussie Shepherd in her too but her mannerisms and behavior are primarily Lab. She has some white patches on her chest and paws, but her appearance and her size are straight up Lab. She's high maintenance though. Roscoe can go on auto-pilot in a minute and stay there. Sadie wants my attention 24/7.

She's very gentle, but she still has that awkward puppy goofiness too. Reckless. All she wants to do is run and play.

Both my dogs sleep in bed with me. I get up earlier than they do though. When they finally wake, Roscoe troops out the back door to potty (doggy door installed) without even giving me a glance. Sadie's right behind him but she veers left and comes over to give me a kiss first.

Roscoe will rip you a new one. All Sadie wants to do is snuggle.

[wyweb]

I dont sing to our two

The singing thing got started because I had damaged goods, or very young pups, and it was important to soothe them.

Roscoe was a wreck when we got him. He was stunned. Shell shocked. He'd probably been on that creek for 3 or 4 days when the boys found him. No food. No mama. No siblings. Nothing. He was 6 or 7 weeks old. That's my guess anyway.

Somebody drove by and threw him out of their dang car. They abandonded him. I can't prove any of this but if I could and I knew who did it, I'd be knocking on their front door and wanting a word with them.

Singing to him seemed like a good thing to do. And it helped. All he wanted to do when we first got him was crawl in a hole. We couldn't even get him to eat at first. He was weak. He'd crawl behind the couch or underneath a chair, or under the dining room table and he would not come out.

I have a thing for small, defenseless animals. I'll sing for them. In a heartbeat. I won't sing for you. You don't need it though and wouldn't like it anyway. I can't sing for squat but the dogs don't care.

[creative craig]

Shakira is very soft with friends and family - but we've had people knock on our door when we were not in and she went beserk... keeps the riff-raff and travelling salesman from the front door :)

As soon as I open the front gate and let the person in she changes completely - she sees that I have let the person in and they must be 'ok'. She still checks them out first, a good sniff and maybe a quick paw to the back of the legs to see what your made of ;)

[Green_Grass]

This thread makes me feel all warm inside.. Thanks wyweb.. Am an Animal lover at heart so I am really enjoying it.

[incrediBILL]

My grandparents had a couple of small silly dogs named Beanie and Penny that liked to spend their day sitting on the edge of the yard waiting for a car to chase. They both got hit and hurt multiple times but that just seemed to make the game all the better for them. Unfortunately for Penny, one day she ended up as flat as her name-sake coin.

Oooops!

My next door neighbor used to have 3 cats. She let them all out at night. They'd lived here for years but suddenly started showing up flat in the street, one right after the other.

She then got a big black Lab that scared all the neighbors and bit her when she tried to control him, from bad to worse. One day my cat peeked out the front door, her black Lab saw the cat and came barreling into my house after my cat, all the way into the back bedroom with the cat wisely under the bed. How the dog got out alive after tearing my house apart (without me killing it) I'll never know, but they moved soon after, no clue what happened to him, but the flat cats she owned before we're much nicer.

In my 20s I had a 20# tabby attack cat, if you've never seen an attack cat, they do exist, they will take a dog down hard, beware. Anyway, came home to find a cold and hungry stray German Sheppard sitting on the front porch. I opened the door and offered for the poor dog to come inside for a little food and to warm up. Unfortunately for the pooch, the attack cat was patiently waiting inside the door and she had other ideas. The minute he stuck his head in the house she practically took the top of his nose off with one swat and he ran screaming down the road never to be seen again.

Oooops!

[wyweb]

she sees that I have let the person in and they must be 'ok'.

That's the trust thing. It's also pretty good evidence that she's accepted you as boss. That's important to establish with a dog.

You can't pull that off with your wife or your girlfriend, but with a dog it's essential. Dogs prefer to follow you. Some are more wary than others though. With some it takes more time to gain that degree of trust.

I got Dish Network a while back, although I've gone back to cable now. I had 4 boxes put in and the satellite guy was in and out of the house most of the morning. Roscoe saw me shake his hand and left him alone. It was a warm day and I was sitting out on the front porch, more to get out of the installers way than anything else. Roscoe was laying on the porch beside me. The tech came back in through the gate, and Roscoe went ballistic. He'd been in and out for an hour already but something about this particular entrance ticked Roscoe off. I never moved faster in my life. First with a huge yell and then on my feet as fast as I could get. My yell stopped him, and then I basically just grabbed hold of his collar and dragged him back in the house... locked him in a spare bedroom until the guy was done.

The Dish guy's peeing his pants, not literally but you get the picture. I'm thinking lawsuit. He dropped some of his stuff when Roscoe raised up and something broke. He had to go get a new something or other just to finish the job.

Roscoe gets intense at times and to be quite honest I really don't mind that. I was at fault though. I should have already had him put up.

[wyweb]

attack cat

ROF...

Bill I don't know about you sometimes. I don't know whether you're pulling my leg or being serious. That's okay.. keeps me on my toes.

they will take a dog down hard

No, they won't. If they're smart they'll be looking for a tree to climb. Or running real fast. Roscoe would eat a cat for lunch and then be looking for a side order. He'll take a coyote out in a minute if there's just one of them, which there never are.

I assure you sir, your cat would not pick a fight with my dog. Not if he's got any sense anyway.

Cat's aren't even on Roscoe's radar. They're minor annoyances. If they move slow around him they don't even register. If they start running he might get up and move but he doesn't put much effort into the chase.

[creative craig]

No, they won't. If they're smart they'll be looking for a tree to climb. Or running real fast. Roscoe would eat a cat for lunch and then be looking for a side order.

Shakira sits waiting for cats to come in the garden - they dont anymore they just sit in the road looking in. Neo likes a good chase of a cat, he's smaller than most :)

A few weeks ago two pigeons liked to come in and drink the pool water in the early morning sun - that didnt last to long either ;)

[wyweb]

We used to camp a lot. One or two week fishing trips. I'd sleep on the ground back then. I won't now but back then it was pitch a tent and get a fire going. We camped in remote areas, places where the fishing was best. Mammoth Lakes CA comes to mind. The Big Horns in Wyoming. Places where bears could eat you. And on occasion did.

Dogs were mandatory out there. Dogs had the ability to keep you safe. A bear can smell your dog before he even gets on your camp and he'll usually go the other way. We usually took 3 or 4 and no bear wants to mix it up with that sort of crowd.

Bears don't always care too much about human scent but if they smell 4 dogs they'll move on down the road. The way I prefer it.

That's how you get to know your dogs, okay? More importantly that's how they get to know you. Take them out in the woods for a week. Let them ride in the boat. All you have to do is include them and they'll get with whatever program you want them to.

It's one of the coolest things about them.

[incrediBILL]

I assure you sir, your cat would not pick a fight with my dog. Not if he's got any sense anyway.

I assure you sir, she was hell on wheels.

She didn't run from anything, she sat there and waited for it to get close enough and then she turned into a ball of fury from hell. I also watched her go after a 6'5" man, she had no qualms of tackling anything and I'm not sure she even knew her own size. My neighbors at the time were actually afraid of my cat, they said she "intimidated them". :)

A buddy of mine had two Burmese if I remember the breed correctly, litter mates, and they actually hunted dogs! One would climb a tree or sit on the roof and when the other came running by with a dog in pursuit the cat would jump on it's back and ride it screaming down the street. The more interesting thing they did was walk up in tandem on either side of a stray dog and simultaneously go into shred mode, very ugly but amusing to watch.

FWIW, I never saw my dalmatian back down from anything either, he was a real street fighter and took his opponents down the ground, teeth around throat every time. However, I watched him tangle with an attack cat once (not mine) and that was the first time I ever watched him back down and go away. That cat lit into him like something totally bat crazy and he had no clue how to defend against it.

[wyweb]

Shakira sits waiting for cats to come in the garden

@Craig...

LOL... Roscoe's fairly tolerant. He has to perceive you as a threat first. Small furry animals.... cats, for instance, don't make him nervous. He'll boss them around if they live here though. He won't hurt them. He'll make them move out of his way, he'll eat their food and he'll run them off the bed. I've never seen him say a word to a cat though. And he's been around cats. It could be argued that he's just acclimated to them but he's just basically more tuned into threats.

If you're big enough to hurt me.. I'll watch you and I'll even get in a preemptive first strike if you get too close. That's basically what's on a dogs mind.

That and what's gonna be in the food bowl tonight.